Eric Bischoff Says Mercedes Mone’s Lack of Promo Abilities Can’t Be Saved by Writers

Mercedes Mone’s arrival in AEW has significantly reshaped the promotion’s landscape. As the TBS Champion as well as the NJPW Women’s Strong Champion, there is no doubt she has a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders, but it appears Eric Bischoff really isn’t a fan of Mone at all.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone is the highest paid women’s wrestler in the business right now. There are quite a few fans who feel Mone is worth the price considering how much the AEW women’s division has been given more focus since her arrival. To add to that, Mercedes Mone even claimed that she has creative control in AEW.

While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff talked about how WWE effectively utilized Mone’s strengths while managing her limitations, producing her around those limitations. In contrast, Tony Khan gave Mercedes Mone the ball and creative control. Bischoff pointed out that in WWE, Banks’ promo skills were not given focus because WWE recognized that she wasn’t strong in that area. He criticized the decision to give her creative control in AEW, noting that her promo skills have not improved and have actually hurt her reputation.

Bischoff also mentioned that if Khan had reviewed his own data and analytics, he would see that the approach is not working. He expressed doubt about the value of the substantial contract and creative control given to Mone.

“But WWE knew how to utilize Sasha Banks’ strengths, but more importantly, WWE understood her limitations and produced her around those limitations. What does Tony Khan do? He gives her the ball and gives her creative control. For some reason, Mercedes Mone, previously Sasha Banks, feels like she’s great—she’s a great promo. One of the reasons I never heard her do promos in WWE is that WWE knew better. She cannot carry a promo; she should never be allowed to open her mouth. Every time she opens her mouth, her stock goes down, and it’s to the point now where I don’t know if she’s worth anything. You think Kamille’s getting a rub because she came out there? By the way, did you watch the match? Of course, Mercedes. It’s all about Kamille. This is her big moment.

So reportedly, she has creative control, and if that is true, she apparently thinks she can handle a lot of dialogue. She’s wrong, and Tony Khan doesn’t have the balls or the ability, or both, to say, ‘Hey Mercedes, let’s back this up a little bit.’ Because I’m a data analyst, that’s my thing. People, you know, Dave Meltzer and everybody talks about how great I am at data analytics and providing that to the NFL, blah blah blah, which may all be true. But clearly, he doesn’t have the ability to research his own data and look at his own analytics. Because if he did, he’d be going, ‘This isn’t working; she’s horrible.’ She was introduced poorly. The setup was horrible. It wasn’t horrible; it was just not effective. But when she started talking, her stock went down.”

According to Bischoff, while Jen Pepperman, a friend of his and a talented writer and director, was involved in the creative process, she cannot compensate for Mone’s lack of promo skills. He concluded that giving someone with limited creative talent such control is detrimental and that Khan has not addressed the resulting issues.

”Reportedly, $5 million annually with a limited number of dates and a seven-figure contract reportedly for Jen Pepperman—who’s a friend of mine, and I think the world of—I don’t know that it’s a fact. I have not had any conversations with Jen. I would not compromise her position or her relationship with anybody by communicating with her while she’s working for AEW. I have too much respect for her.

Regardless of how talented Jen Pepperman is—she is a writer, a director, and probably in this case, a producer as well—she can’t go out and cut the promo for Mercedes. She can’t grab the mic and do it. No matter how good a writer or director is, if the performer, actor, actress, or wrestler doesn’t have any talent, it doesn’t matter who’s writing or directing. The fact that Tony gave creative control to someone who has never demonstrated the ability to be good at creative, because she certainly didn’t have creative control in WWE, and to spend $5 million a year plus on a talent and give that talent creative control, and then once you do realize that she’s going to drive her own character—and by the way, your company—into the ditch and not do anything about it.

Mercedes Mone is also advocating for the AEW Women’s Division behind closed doors. Regardless, there are many who believe Mercedes Mone has been worth the price, but Eric Bischoff will never feel the same way.

What’s your view on what Eric Bischoff had to say about Mercedes Mone not having proper promo skills? Do you feel there is a way to save Mone? Let us know in the comments section below!

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.